Index-cabinet.



.and v whic i are used therein.

UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIoE.

CHARLES ELMERFLANDERS, or WEST BnooKFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

INDEX-CABINET.

speiameion of Letters raten.

ratent'ed Nov. 10, 1908.

Appiicaon nea :une is, isos. Serial N. saam.

To all whom 'it may concem:

Be il known that I, CHARLES ELMER FLAN- mms, a citizen of the United States .residing nt YVest Brookfield', in the county of lVorces ter and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in Index-Cabinets; and I do eclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinve'ntion, such as will,

enable others skilled in the art to which it rtains to make and use the same. Y

, y invention relates to index cabinets, articularly to the card drawers or boxes Tlie'ob'ect of the invention and will enable rapidmanipulation ofthe parts and selectionof the cards.

A further object of theinvent-ion is the rovision of'a'novel fol-lower' and a 'novel ocking device therefor'. y

-A still further object of the invention is the provision of means for holding the fol llower normally tightl against the cards and o'f construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as will be more fully described alnd particularly pointed out in thellfppended c aims.

InA the accompanying drawin s, Figure 1 is a front elevation, Fig. 2 is a ong'itudinalv section tak'en on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1', Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line'IB--S of Fig. 2, Fig. 4 is a horizontal section' taken on the line L+-4 of Fig. 2, and 5 isa. detail vertical sectional view of a m ication.

- Referring more especially to the drawings',

' represents the bottom of the b'ox,2 the side pieces thereof and 3 and 4 the front and rear end pieces. AS shown this box is constructed of wood with its 4inside portions grooved. at 5, and the left hand side at 6. It will, how;

ever, be understood that the box may be is the'. provision of a ox of this character which may be' cheaplyV constructed, which -Will be' eilicient.

Vand 17. The latter plate bein@r y the bottom of the box,

suitable material such fas structed Vof an lor the like with the grooves brass, sheet-stee formed therein. Seated .in the grooves 5 on either side of 4the box are the resilientmemhers`7,'here` shown in the form of Spiral* springs, which have connected to their outer ends the retaining buttons 8, having loops Vupon their inner ends'9 to engage loops 10,

formed upon the spring. The inner ends'of the springs 7l are connected to the hooks 11,l carried upon either side of the' follower 12. This follower closely ts between the sides l2 and if of Wood'ma have a bearing plate, 13, formed on its vle u hand end. to receive the thrust ofthe looking cam 14. This caln 14 is seated ih' the groove 6 with its iiat face 415 approximatelyliush with the left handv side 2. Its 'ends are passed through 'the end pieces Sand 4 and -are j'ournaled in plates 16 positioned upon the 'frontV end 3, and the former positioned upon the end V4 of the box. The end of the shaft of the cam which projects through the bearing plate 16 is provided with a squared end upon which the operating handle 18 is secured. l

It will. be understood that While 'I have illustrated a certain form of cam that any other form may be rovided which will accomplish the desire purpose, and I also do ynot wish to b e limited to the spring shown herein, as any other form Vof resilient connection between lthe follower and the front end iece 'may be employed with successi AAlso the devic may be constructed of sheetmetal with an inwardly extending rib 19, forming 'a' rib being otted. at 21 to receive the hooks of the 4follower 12.l

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understoodwith- Aout requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in theforxn, proportion and theminor details of construction may be resorted to without departing fromfthe principle' or sacrificing any ofv the advantages of this invention as defined in the appended claims.

. oove 420, on the outer side, the.

Having thus described'my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is :ld n 1. In a card indexbox, a follower, a pair ofresilient members connected to Said fol- 'lower'4 fornornially holding it against the `ment within the box, a

.members connected to the box and tothe,

cards in the box, and means journaled in the ends of the'box for holdingthe follower in any adjusted position.

V2. In aeard'index box, e follower, n, pair of resilient members connected thereto for normally holding said follower against the cards in the box, and a lock carried by the box adapted to hold said follower in any ndjusted position.

3. In a card index box,` ed for free longitudinal and. angular movepair of. resilient follower for normally holding the latter in engagement with theoards in the box, a, @am

journaled in a groove in said box and nor- :nelly permitting said follower to travel freely under the influence of the resilient members, and means to opera-te said cam a follower adepti whereby the follower may be loc'kedin any adjusted position within the box.

4. In a card index box having a plurality of grooves formed the-rein, resilient mem bers mounted in certain of said grooves, a follower connected to said resilient members to be normally forced toward the front end ofthe box to keep itself in engtgement with the'cards therein, n. cam journaled in the ends of seid box and lying in one of the grooves in said box, and means for operating the cam. Y

In testimony whereof I have hereunto. set my hand' in presence of two subscribing I witnesses.

CHARLES ELMER FLANDERS.

Witnesses:

ROBERT WALKER, SADm M. EATON. 

